Ok, Ok, I know I say this all the time, but I am sorry that I haven't been very good at updating this site! I have been busy! First on the weight loss front I am down 119 pounds!! YIPEE! I am just 24 pounds away from reaching the 200 pound mark. It's so hard to believe that in just 6 short months I have become a totally different person. Well, not totally different, but at least in appearance.

I have a job! Can you believe it??!! I thought it would never happen! I took the nanny job in Sarasota. I started last week and it's going ok. I am just bored. It's hard to go from the type of job I had where it's so fast paced to where I spend my days entertaining a 16 month old. It's not that bad, but I know it's not what I want to do. It's hard because I don't have another job to fall back on, but I really don't think that I will be staying on with them for too much longer. It's hard to explain without getting too specific, but it's just not working for me. I'll keep you posted.

Well, I have some rather upsetting news. Christina was denied for the surgery by Aetna. She is really upset about it and I can't blame her. The dr office that she is working with isn't being very helpful either. They told her to just let them know what she decides to do. Christina had to actually bring up the subject of appealing the decision. Oh, I guess I should tell you that the reason the insurance company denied her is because she hasn't been on a dr supervised weight loss program in the past 6 months. So, really they didn't deny her, but they have delayed her claim for at least 6 more months. It seems like forever right now. If anyone has had any experience dealing with Aetna and can give her any advice, please click on the link to send her an email. Thanks for your help!!

Hi everyone!! Don't fall over because I am actually updating this site!! I am officially down 123 pounds and in 17 more pounds I will be officially off the protien only diet. That's not to say that I have only been eating protien, but I have been trying. I can say that I have a new love of mushrooms. It has been so long since I have eaten them that I finally gave it up last week and it seems like every time I go out to eat I order something with mushrooms. I wonder what I am going to be like when I am pregnant?!?! I have craved the weirdest things since surgery. Like grilled cheese, mushrooms, french toast and key lime pie. I know, I am weird!! I am still wearing the same sizes (pretty much), I can tell that my size 20 pants are getting a little loose, but I can still wear them. I am so looking forward for the day when I can walk into Banana Republic and buy anything I want because I can actually wear the clothes! That is a day when I will literally jump up and down.

Christina is going to fight the insurance company to get approved for the surgery. She is even considering hiring a lawyer to file the appeal for her. I have a good feeling about it and I hope that eveything works out for her.

I have to tell you that I went to a concert in Tampa on Sunday night and I feel like a cheeseball to admit this, but the reason I went was because O-Town was there! I feel like I need to be in BBA Boy Bands Anonyms "My name is Jamie and I am 25 years old and I like boy bands" I know I am not alone, but I feel like a dork sometimes. Anyway, the concert that we went to was hosted by a local radio station and it was really cool. The line up was Paulina Rubio (I know, I said the same thing, who??), Tina Novack (again, who??), this techno guy named DaRude, Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch, The Calling, Aaron Carter, Ashanti, Craig David (he'a a hottie!) and O-Town. The Calling, Michelle Branch and O-Town were by far the best performers. I had so much fun!! It was neat because I got to go with Jodi and one of her friends. I am glad that Jodi and I got to go together. She is going to be moving next week and I am really going to miss her!!

June 14, 2002

Well, as of today I weigh 219 pounds. Only 19 pounds away from my next goal. I am not sure what my goal will be after I make it to 200 pounds, but I know that I can't wait to say that I weigh under 200 pounds. I can't believe that all of this has happened to me so quickly. It's only been 6 1/2 months since surgery and I am nearing my next goal. I know that as I set goals for myself they will be small steps, because I know that it's easier to achieve small goals instead of setting my sights too high! All is going well though in the weight loss world. Although it seems like I have nothing to wear again. I have no jeans that fit, I only have like 3 pairs of shorts, and a few shirts. I am to the point where I refuse to buy anything new because what's the point. I might go to Target or Wal Mart and see what I can find, but I never have any luck in those stores. I always want what I can't afford and why waste the money now anyway?!?!! Such problems!! What ever am I going to do!?!? HAHA!

Well, I have news on the job front....you guys are going to think I am nuts, but I quit my nanny job on Wednesday. I know, I know I just started and it sounded so great. Well, the novelty has already worn off. They wanted me to be on call 6 days a week. She basically told me the days when they might need me and in return I wasn't to make any plans on those days at those times. So, I would have to be on call every day except Monday and they wanted me to work all weekend every weekend. Nope, so sorry, not the job for me. I am going to try and get a job working with Christina as a Site Director for a before and after school program at a local Elementary school. It sounds right up my alley and guess what?!?! No nights or weekends and I can go back to school!`!

Last night a bunch of us from church got together and had a video scavengar hunt. My mom made all the clues and we had to figure out what they meant and go take videos of us at these different locations with different people. One of the clues had us figure out which Taco Bell had a manager named Chris and we had to have a video made with him. It was a total blast. I never would have thought that I am in such bad shape (well, I guess I have always known) but we had to run out to the peir from the beach parking lot and let me tell you running in sand waving a video camera is no picnic. I'm not sure how Pam Anderson did it!! :o) I just know that I did a heck of a lot better last night than I ever would have done a year ago. I couldn't imagine me a year ago trying to run all the way out to the pier, I would still be huffing and puffing! I think the best part was watching the videos from the other groups and seeing what they did, it was so much fun. I think we will have to do this again!!

Well, one week from today and Jodi and Aaron will be gone. They are leaving in 6 days. I am so sad. I never thought that I would be this upset about them leaving. I know it's not like I'll never see them, but it's not going to be the same. Jodi is like one of my best friends and we do so much together. Who am I going to get to go to the Brandon Mall with me?? Who can I talk to for hours and we know exactly what the other is trying to say?? I know I should be happy for them, and I am, but I am sad for me.

I don't want to end this entry on a sad note, so I'll tell you a joke...Are you ready??? Ok, so a horse walks into a bar and the bartender says "Why the long face?" HA HA HA!! I crack me up!

June 26 - July 2

I am combining the past week into one entry because it seems like the same LONG day. I went to Gainesville with Shiloh to visit Jodi and Aaron and we painted and worked around the house for almost the whole week. It was nice to be there with Jodi and Aaron, but if I never pick up another paint brush again it will be too soon. Anyway, Jodi and Aaron have a new house and I guess the builder thought that it would be a clever idea to paint every ceiling and wall green. It is a very nice green, but come on every wall and ceiling!! So, we painted the guest room yellow and Jodi's room lavendar and white. It looks really nice. After all the work was done we went to the movies and Aaron and Shiloh went to see Scooby-Doo and Jodi and I went to see Minority Report. I have to tell you that Minority Report is the best movie I have seen for a long time!! You must go see it! Well, on Tuesday we finally came home and it was nice to be in my own bed instead of sharing an air mattress with a 7 year old who like to do gymnastics in the middle of the night!!

Oh yeah, I have another job! I am going to be the Site Director for a local elementary school for the before and after school program. I can't wait to start. I will get to work with Christina again! I am so excited! We make such a great team.

July 4, 2002

Happy Independence Day!! I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday. I went out on the boat with Charles and Christina and we went swimming and playing around. It was a beautiful day and the water was so nice. But after a while I started to feel a pain in my stomach and I had to go home. I am not sure what it was, but after I got home and laid down I felt ok again. You know I don't understand why it happened, but I am glad that it went away.

As of today I have lost 130 pounds! I now weigh 213 pounds and I am only 13 pounds away from my next goal. I can't believe it. I am so excited to be so close to my next goal. I guess I need to figure out what my next goal after that should be. I would like to get down to 150 pounds, but I think 50 pounds is kind of a big goal...who knows...I am just thinking out loud here.

There are so many things I have wanted to put out here that have got my attention lately, but there are so many! The first thing that annoyed me was the whole Southwest Airlines fiasco. Did you hear about that? Where they are charging a "larger person" for 2 seats on a flight. Well, first I would like to know what qualifies someone as "larger", I am still considered a "larger" person but should I have to pay for 2 seats on a flight?? I don't think so! I am just upset because I think it is a form of discrimination. Would they make anyone else buy 2 seats?? I will put a link on this page to their website and you can read the statement that they made. I wasn't so angry after I read it, but I am still convinced that it is a form of discrimination. Ok, the second thing I am into this month is American Idol. Have you seen it? I can't believe that Simon can be so mean, but I also can't believe that some of the people that auditioned actually thought they could sing! It was almost too painful for me to watch some of these poor people, but you know that I tune in every week. Mostly I just like to watch Ryan Seacrest and Simon to see what he says. I know, I know I need help!

Tomorrow I am trying Acupuncture for the very first time and I must say that I am little leary about it. I have tried everything that I can think of to get rid of the back pain that I have been experiencing. I thought at first that losing 130 pounds would end the pain, but it's getting worse. I have tried massage, changing my posture and I can't think of what else to try and a friend of mine had acupuncture and her back pain is gone. I probably would have never even considered it but the woman that does my facials her husband is an MD that practices alternative medicines, so I feel comfortable with Doug. We'll see how it goes. I will let you know how my very first experience goes!

I just have to say that I did watch American Idol tonight and I am glad they chose RJ. I think he did a great job and I felt so bad for him when he got stuck in the middle of the fight with Simon, Randy and Paula. I was very proud of him that he could actually go on tonight and perform so well. Enough of that...

I just thought you would be interested to know that I calculated my BMI for the first time since surgery and it went from 53.7 to 33.5. I have gone from being considered super obese to just plain old obese. I still have 9 BMI "points" to drop before I am considered "normal". I can't believe that I am that close to being normal. Anyone who knows me knows that it is going to take a lot more than just 9 BMI points to make me normal!! HA!! Anyway that's about the most exciting thing that has happened to me lately, I am having a boring spell. Talk to you when things get interesting!! Oh yeah!! I almost forgot to tell you about my acupunture experience. It was so great. So much better than I ever thought it would be. I only had to have 2 needles and they were in my feet?!?! To make a long drawn out srory short, I was massaged, pricked with 2 needles (it didn't hurt), rubbed with lotion and put on a table with these rollers in it. All in all it was a very nice experience. I am pain free right now so we'll see how long it lasts.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who emailed me with suggestions on how to get rid of my back pain. I really appreciate it!!

You can use the table below to calculate your BMI!

How
tall are you?
feet,
inches. (Note: don't put " or ' marks in the spaces above.)
How much do you weigh?
pounds

www.obesityhelp.com

July 19, 2002

HI all!! There is so much to tell! I am down to 210 pounds which is a total loss so far of 133 pounds. My 8 month anniversary is coming up on the 23rd and I can't believe that it has been 8 months already. I have been through a lot in the past 8 months and I am happy to say that God has seen me through it all!! I have to tell you that the most exciting thing happened to me the other day at Target. I saw this skirt that I really liked but the largest size they had was a 16 (the skirt was actually not in the plus department!), but my mom said just try it on anyway. So I did and guess what?!?!? It fit!! Granted it was a little tight, but the fact of the matter is that I could button and zip it and it fit! I didn't buy it, but I am thinking about going back and getting it. My mom did, however, buy me a jean skort and a pair of khaki shorts from Lane Bryant the other day, size 18. They fit really nice. It was a definate suprise for her to buy them for me because she usually doesn't buy me clothes. Oh, I have to tell you that I am in desperate need of a bra, but I can't find one I like that fits. I guess I need to go to Victoria Secret and have them measure me because I have no idea what size I am now. I am just scared to go into VS because I feel like if I walk in there and ask to try on bras they will take one look at me and be like she is too fat to wear anything in here. I know that I shouldn't feel that way, but I do. I used to feel like that when I would go shopping with Jodi and I guess it's going to take more than 8 months for me to get over the feeling like I am not good enough to shop in certain stores or that I feel like they think I shouldn't shop there because I am still too fat. Does this make any sense to anyone?? Am I the only one that feels this way?? I don't know. I was thinking that I should find a support group in my area for long term post ops so I can have some people to talk to that understand what I mean. I have been very bad about support group meetings because I haven't been to one since before surgery, but I never have felt like driving 4 hours to go to a meeting. Oh, well!! I will get off this subject now because it is depressing! I just have to keep reminding myself that I fit into a size 16!! That should cheer me up, right??!?

On the personal side of my life there hasn't been a lot going on lately. I went fishing with my parents yesterday and that was fun. I caught the biggest fish and I also caught the most fish! I am an expert fisherperson!! HA!! Other than that I am supposed to go play tennis tonight with my friend Steve, but I am coming down with a cold or something and I just don't feel like it. Maybe we'll just go to dinner instead. Also, I am starting my new job next week instead of in 3 weeks like I thought. It will be nice to get some training in before school actually starts. I also can't wait to starting working again. Since I quit working as a nanny I have babysat for them a few times, but I am bored and I can't wait to get back to work!! I will let you know how it goes! Have a great weekend!

Please feel free to send me an email or sign my guestbook, I would love to hear from you!!

July 22, 2002

Hi all! I hope everyone had a great weekend! I sure did! I spent the majority of the weekend out on my friend's boat. It was soooo fun! This is the time of year that I like to live in Florida! I also went bowling and out to dinner with some friends on Saturday night, it was so much fun!! I have put some of the highlight pictures on the Other Pictures page. Be sure to check them out!

Well, I have officially come to the conclusion that I cannot, under any circumstances, eat McDonald's food. I have tried on several occasions to have the chicken McNuggets and they have not settled well (if you know what I mean!) and last night I thought ok, I won't have McNuggets so I'll try a double cheesburger and just eat a much as I want if I can't eat the whole thing. Well, that went over like a lead balloon, because I ate like half of it and threw it up almost immediately after I ate it. I guess there is just too much grease in their food or something. I'm not really sure what the deal is, but I am not eating there ever again!!

I have joined several webrings lately and there are some really good site out there dedicated to weight loss and weight loss surgery. Click on the Favorite Links link to check them out.